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Spring has brought about a frantic burst of activity for Balerno Village Screen, and thanks to recent benefactors Scottish rugby maestro Mike Blair and the City of Edinburgh Council we will be showing off our new hi-def projector on our new super size screen this Saturday. Hold on to your hats…

Also following some cancellations yesterday we have a handful of tickets available for all of our screenings tomorrow.

Please note that Argo is Cert 15 and only those 15 years and older will be admitted into the screening. Rated R for language and some violent images. If you can no longer attend or are unable to get a ticket, please see our tickets page for more information.

Balerno Village Screen continues to upgrade its equipment. This March we were delighted to be given a new giant cinema screen courtesy of Scottish Rugby International scrum-half Mike Blair. Mike has been so impressed by the community spirit generated by BVS that he has generously donated a 4 metre wide screen.

“There is a fantastic community atmosphere happening in Balerno. I’m in France just now so have not managed to get along to Balerno Village Screen but I was keen to help them out. Hopefully the screen will allow them to reach even greater audiences“. Mike said.

Mike is the highest capped international scrum-half in Scottish rugby, he was a British Lion in South Africa and is presently enjoying the sun in southern France playing for Brive. Mike is also a big film fan and his favourite films are The Last Samurai, Man on Fire and Blood Diamond. Continue reading →

We have to confess we didn’t see this one coming. On Thursday last week Motion S4M-05863 in the Scottish Parliament (yes the Scottish Parliament!!!) said:

‘That the Parliament congratulates Balerno Village Screen, the latest addition to Scotland’s cinema scene; understands that the community cinema is operated by local volunteers and, as a result of donations, is able to offer free admission; notes that, since its opening screening in the old parish church hall on 2 February 2013, it has played to record crowds, and wishes this new community venture every success in the future’.

Having just won the best picture gong at the 2013 Academy Awards we thought Argo would be a good choice for April. Based on real events, the dramatic thriller “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played—information that was not declassified until many years after the event. (C) Official Site.

Please be aware that Argo is a 15 certification and that those attending MUST be 15 and above. Argois screening at 4pm and 7pm on Saturday 6th April (doors open 30 minutes in advance). Tickets will be made available on Tuesday 12th March on the website or for pick up from the Mill Cafe or the Post Office.

An animated movie set in Paris in the year 1910 and centered on a monster who lives in a garden and his love for a beautiful, young singer.

A Monster in Parisis screening at 10.30am on Saturday 6th April (doors open 30 minutes in advance). Tickets will be made available on Tuesday 12th March on the website or for pick up from the Mill Cafe or the Post Office.

We are delighted to announce that the City of Edinburgh Council has approved a grant to support Balerno Village Screen. This is fantastic news and will allow us to install suitable projection and sound equipment to enhance the cinema experience and help us make the facilities available to the wider community.

The funding will also allow us to develop a programme of training and workshops for children who want to learn more about making film.

A huge thank you goes to the City of Edinburgh Council for having the vision to support this project and also thank you to the community of Balerno and surrounding areas for endorsing our community cinema by turning out in numbers to support us and sending your messages of support!

Happy Friday everyone – tickets for our April screenings of ARGO and Monster in Paris available Tuesday 12th March.

Hey, I’m Darran I just reviewed Argo for you guys but I also run my own blog at http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/

I grew up in Edinburgh and went to high-school in Balerno and love that you guys have a community cinema now!

Darran Murphy

I was the kid that stayed on the bus out of school straight past my house and rode on to a cinema in the city where I would watch any and all new films that were out. I literally grew up in film. I love cinemas – they are the places where I feel most comfortable in the world: being able to forget yourself for a short time in those dark rooms, lit only with the fantastical light and imagery of a projector, is a rapturous thing. I still go to the cinema all the time and now – with my blog – I love writing about films I’ve watched too.

My blog is primarily a venue for my photography and film talk.

One of my favourite photography posts is this one – http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/sunrise-sheriffmuir/
A favourite film post of mine is this one –
http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/talking-film-fish-tank/

Argo is this years Oscar-winning best picture and is directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars. Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone (2007) quietly yet powerfully announced him as a director really worth looking out for. The film starred his brother Casey Afleck and Michelle Monahghan as a husband and wife private investigating team looking into the disappearance of young girl. It was Ben Affleck’s first full length feature as a director and it instantly became a favourite of mine. Argo is his third full-length feature and it solidifies Affleck as a rock-solid directing talent. Continue reading →

Skyfall weekend saw the rugged and attractive members of the Balerno Village Screen committee busy ensuring the five separate screenings were an enormous success with over 400 villagers enjoying the Village Screen experience.

Behind the scenes major developments were accomplished on sound, screen, blackout curtains and blinds. A massive thank you to David Baillie (decorator), Al Murray scaffold and blind painter supreme, Smithy and Jonathan on the sound system and Jen Jacques for curtain wizardry. Singling people out is of course iniquitous as the entire committee worked their socks off to make the weekend such a huge success.

Starting on Friday night we squeezed in an extra showing of Skyfall for those who hadn’t picked up tickets. This show had an age range from three to eighty three and proved very popular, despite the tight timescale for the extra show. Next up we put on Brave as a Saturday matinee for children, families and the young at heart.

The sound was so powerful that the bears seemed real. The picture quality was also top notch. By this time of course everyone was being filmed by Media Co-op who were making a feature of our cinema for Scotmid (our biggest funder). Another great show with almost no popcorn spilt and absolutely no children lost in our tremendous blackout curtain arrangement.

Upwards and onwards the 4pm showing of Skyfall in the Ogston Hall was standing room only with everything going off without a hitch. Then following a tight turnaround we managed to screen Skyfall in the Ogston and St Joseph’s complete with Aston Martin donated for one night only by Murray Motors, laser and smoke machine from Lindsey Middleton, red carpet from Apex International Hotel and a huge amount of generosity and goodwill from the people of Balerno.

What a fabulous weekend, thanks to everyone for their support. See you next month for Argo (best film at this year’s Oscars) – tickets will be made available soon…..